BELL’S BREWERY

Brewery Expansion

The $8 million project is a newly constructed 45,000-square-foot, three-story brew house, which increased the production capacity by 400%. The project also included a new visitor’s center, employee care area, and space and equipment for new specialty fermentations.

The exterior of the new facility was designed with pre-cast insulated panel exterior walls, structural steel framing and membrane roofing for long-term cost efficiency. This new facility also included a laboratory, featured a green roof and utilized light tubes. The interior of the building was designed with finishes that facilitate a sanitary work environment and are strong enough to withstand the weight requirements of forklifts in the bottling area.

The inherently high humidification generated in the beer-making process brought challenges to the design of both the mechanical and electrical systems. A desiccant dehumidification system was installed to limit the fermentation room’s relative humidity to 35 percent. Aluminum ductwork and light fixtures for high-moisture areas were also specified. The raw barley and oat ingredients storage rooms were considered “explosive,” and specialized light fixtures were utilized accordingly.

The project designer was Slocum Architects.

PROJECT DETAILS
Location:Kalamazoo, MI
Categories:Industrial
Bell's Brewery Expansion
Bell's Brewery Expansion
Bell's Brewery Expansion
Bell's Brewery Expansion
Bell's Brewery Expansion